JERUSALEM -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Israeli officials are seeking a meeting with Turkey 's ambassador to protest a show on Turkish television that reportedly depicts Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian children .

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman says the Turkish TV show `` is being done with state sponsorship . ''

Turkey has been Israel 's strongest Muslim ally in the Middle East , and the move comes as relations between the countries have soured in recent days over the latter 's decision to exclude Israel from scheduled military exercises .

The Turkish TV show `` constitutes the most serious level of incitement , and it is being done with state sponsorship , '' Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement .

The show aired this week on Turkey 's state-run TRT-1 network . It shows an actor dressed as an Israeli soldier shooting what appears to be an unarmed Palestinian girl . In another sequence , an Israeli soldier opens fire on an infant being held by what appears to be a family member .

`` Such a series which bears no connection whatsoever to reality , presenting IDF -LSB- Israel Defense Forces -RSB- soldiers as murderers of innocent children , should not be broadcast even in hostile states -- and certainly not in a state that maintains full diplomatic relations with Israel , '' Lieberman said .

The show called `` Ayrilik '' is billed on the TRT Web site as the `` first time a TV series shows the ongoing , bleeding wound of the world which is taking place on Palestinian lands . It shows the painful stories of the people who lived on invaded Palestinian lands in 1948 , especially women and children . ''

Israel and Turkey have enjoyed close military and economic ties for more than a decade . But relations have grown testy at times in recent years over Israel 's activities in the Palestinian territories and over its Gaza offensive in December and January .

On Tuesday , a senior U.S. military official said Turkey 's decision this week to postpone a NATO war exercise appears to have been a political decision intended to exclude the Israelis .

The official , who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly , said U.S. officials were uncomfortable about excluding Israel and so welcomed postponing the maneuvers in which U.S. military units were scheduled to participate . The exercises were to start Monday and run through October 23 .

Turkish lawmaker Suat Kiniklioglu , deputy chairman of the external affairs committee for the ruling Justice and Development Party , said that it is n't `` state policy for Turkish television to portray Israel badly . '' He said the television network contracts with private producers .

`` It 's probably some producer who is trying to tap into popular reaction against israel , trying to make money off it , '' said Kiniklioglu , who has not seen the program .

Kiniklioglu said it `` would not be wrong to say Turkish-Israeli relations have become much more fragile '' after Gaza , commenting on the exclusion of Israel from military exercises .

`` This is basically all about Gaza . ... The humanitarian crisis is continuing and Prime Minister -LSB- Recep Tayyip -RSB- Erdogan is upset about it . ''

Alon Liel , Israel 's top diplomat in Turkey during the 1980s , said he believes the relations between the two countries are in crisis .

`` This unbelievable attack on the Israeli army is in the country that in the last 15 years was probably the closest to our army , so it 's a major surprise , a major change , '' Liel said .

CNN 's Ivan Watson and Yesim Comert contributed to this report .

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Turkish TV show reportedly shows Israeli soliders killing young Palestinians

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Israeli official says show `` constitutes the most serious level of incitement ''

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Israeli officials seek a meeting with Turkey 's ambassador to protest show

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Ties between nations strained after Turkey excludes Israel from military exercises